Zakaria said that Pakistan was committed to the goal of nuclear weapons free world through a universal, non-discriminatory and comprehensive convention on nuclear weapons.

He said the Treaty on Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons did not fulfill these essential conditions- both in terms of process and substance.

The spokesperson noted that treaties not considering the interests of all stakeholders fail to achieve their objectives and Pakistan like all the other nuclear armed states, did not take part in its negotiation and cannot become a party to this Treaty.

He said Pakistan stresses that this Treaty neither forms a part of, nor contributes to the development of customary international law in any manner.

The Spokesperson reiterated Pakistan’s belief in a cooperative and consensus-based process resulting in equal and undiminished, if not increased security for all States to achieve the objective.

He said the Geneva-based Conference on Disarmament remains the most ideal forum for concluding such a convention.